Online social networking may not be the first thought that comes to mind when you think of church, but maybe it should be. Churches are beginning to discover the power of online social networking to reach and disciple people into active followers of Jesus Christ. This is like the printing press all over again - [...]
According to the Apostle Paul, Jesus set us free for freedom.
“For freedom Christ has set us free.” (Galatians 5.1 NRSV)
We were set free so that we could live free. Jesus did not die to set us free in order for us to sell ourselves back into bondage.
Paul continues on with this strong warning:
“Stand firm, therefore, [...]
We will be celebrating Independence Day this week here in the USA. Each July 4 we observe a national holiday to celebrate the day our nation’s founders formally declared independence from England.
Those early Americans took their new freedom very seriously. Read any early American documents and the pervasive fear of government is unmistakable. There were [...]
Holiness Is Boring
I read a provocative statement about holiness recently. The statement struck me because it cuts to the heart of a false idea we often carry about holiness.
“Holiness is not deadness; it is passion.”
There is a lot contained in that little sentence. I suspect we often view holiness in something of a negative light. [...]
Sometimes (okay, often times) we get hung up on maintaining old ministry models. These old models may have served well once upon a time but there is nothing sacred about the model or method. They are simply tools that, to varying extents, were useful and effective in communicating the Christian message.
Even a cursory reading of [...]
Thomas Merton makes an interesting observation in his little book, “Thoughts In Solitude.”
“Yet You, O Lord, came into the world to be poor among the poor, because it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. And we, [...]
This is the fifth article in the series “A Christian Response To Illegal Immigration.”
Third, we are exhorted to view the world around us in light of the spiritual battle that is unfolding, ever aware of Kingdom dynamics, with an eye toward what God is doing.
I realize that “enlightened” Westerners generally prefer to believe only [...]
This article is the fourth in the series “A Christian Response To Illegal Immigration.” This article series explores a Christian response to a modern social concern - foreign nationals that have illegally immigrated to the United States.
Second, we are taught to love one another, prefer one another, and finally to do good to others as [...]
This is the third article in the series “A Christian Response To Illegal Immigration.” The first two articles explored the issue of national border security and whether a Christian response has yet been presented on this important matter. This article begins exploring one of three Biblical commands that have direct bearing on our subject matter: [...]
This is part two in the series “A Christian Response To Illegal Immigration.” I discussed the issue of fair and equitable immigration laws and border security in the first article. My focus now is on foreign nationals who are already in the country - but illegally.
What is the Christian response to illegal immigration? More [...]